Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation looks at husbands as victims of family violence at the hands of their spouses. Four white Afrikaans speaking persons from Pretoria were interviewed in case studies focusing on the problem of husband abuse. During the interviews use was made of an interview schedule based on contemporary theoretical explanations for the phenomenon. Three of the participants were white males who elaborated on their own experiences as victims of marital violence. A fourth participant was a white female who elaborated on her father’s experiences as a victim of marital violence. The taped recordings of the interviews were transcribed and a data set developed by using AtlasTi. The data set was used to construct the social worlds of men as victims of marital violence by focusing on eight categories: definitions of violence, frequency of violence, causes of violence, violent insidents, effects of violence, disintegration of the relationship, remaining in a violent relationship and men and women’s propensity for violence. The data set was further used to examine the contemporary theoretical explanations for family violence at the micro, meso and macro levels. Regarding the micro level constructs, there seems to be application value for the psychobiological and psychodynamic perspectives. The victim theory does not seem to have much apllication value. With regard to the meso level constructs, it seems as if stress theory and traumatic bonding theory, exchange/social control theory and social learning theory may be useful in explaining marital violence. Power theory and resource theory, in an amended form, may also be of value. The application of conflict theory seems problematic since it is not clear whether violence leads to isolation or vice versa. Regarding the macro level analysis, it seems as though the culture of violence theory and the subculture of violence theory have strong application value. General systems theory is difficult to apply, but theoretically specific questions to the participants brought to light that support networks for male victims are inadequate or even absent. The patriarchal feminist theory seems to have no apllication value seeing that three of the main assumptions of this theory collapsed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif kyk na getroude mans as slagoffers van gesinsgeweld aan die hand van hul vroue. Onderhoude is gevoer met vier wit Afrikaanssprekende persone van Pretoria in gevallestudies met die fokus op die probleem van eggenoot-misbruik. Gedurende die onderhoude is gebruik gemaak van ‘n onderhoudskedule wat gebaseer is op kontemporêre teoretiese verduidelikings vir die verskynsel. Drie van die deelnemers was blanke mans wat uitgebrei het oor hul eie ervarings as slagoffers van huweliksgeweld. ‘n Vierde deelnemer was ‘n blanke vrou wat uitgebrei het op haar vader se ondervindings van huweliksgeweld. Die bandopnames van die onderhoude is getranskribeer en ‘n datastel ontwikkel deur gebruik te maak van AtlasTi. Die datastel is gebruik om die sosiale wêrelde van mans, as slagoffers van huweliksgeweld, te konstrueer deur te fokus op agt kategorieë: geweldsomskrywings, geweldsfrekwensie, geweldsoorsake, geweldsinsidente, geweldseffek, verhoudingsdisintegrasie, aanbly in die geweldsverhouding en mans en vroue se geneigdheid tot geweld. Die data is verder gebruik om die kontemporêre teoretiese verduidelikings vir gesinsgeweld op die mikro-, meso- en makrovlakke mee te eksamineer. Onder die mikrovlak-konstrukte skyn daar sterk toepassingsmoontlikhede te wees vtr die psigo-biologiese en psigodinamiese perspektiewe. Die blameer-die -slagoffer-perspektief skyn nie veel toepassingswaarde te hê nie. Onder die mesovlak-konstrukte blyk stresteorie en traumatiese bindingsteorie, ruil-/sosiale beheerteorie en sosiale leerteorie bruikbaar te wees in die verklaring van huweliksgeweld. Magsteorie en hulpbronteorie kan ook van waarde wees. Die toepassing van konflikteorie skyn problematies te wees, want dit is nie seker of die geweld lei tot isolasie van die gesin of omgekeerd nie. Wat die makrovlak-konstrukte aanbetref blyk geweldskultuurteorie en die subkultuur van geweldsteorie ook sterk toepassingsmoontlikhede te hê. Algemene sisteemteorie is moeilik toepasbaar, maar teoreties-spesifieke vrae aan die deelnemers het aan die lig gebring dat ondersteuningsnetwerke vir manslagoffers gebrekkig of selfs afwesig is. Die patriargale feministiese teorie skyn geen toepassingswaarde te hê nie aangesien die drie hoofaannames van hierdie teorie platval.

Thesis (MEdPsych))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: School violence is a reality in South African township schools contaminating the school environment and jeopardizing the educational process. The aim of this study is to explore adolescent learners' experience of school violence in township high schools in order to develop and recommend a school prevention intervention programme/strategy. The study is explained in the theoretical framework of the bio-ecosystemic theory where violence is discussed as a reaction and as an action that occurs through reciprocal interaction between systems and the social environment. Through this interaction, adolescent learners are exposed to individual, family, school and community risk factors which place them at risk. Literature shows that schools in the township are sites of widespread violence; and these impacts on learners‟ emotional well-being. School violence also reflects the relationship that exists between what occurs in schools and what happens in learners' homes and communities. The specific design selected for this study is a case study and is qualitative and explorative in nature. Unstructured interviews were conducted with individual learners and focus groups to gather information regarding adolescents' experiences of school violence. The data was analysed with three main themes emerging during the participants' interviews. The findings revealed that a significant number of adolescent learners in the township school have experienced some form of gender-related violence at school, and that boys are more often the perpetrators of this school violence. The findings further showed that lack of safety and class management is another cause of violence and the violent activities within the school are a symptom of the social ills of the community within which the school is situated. Conclusions drawn from the study are that school violence is a multifaceted phenomenon and, based on these findings, it is recommended that a 'whole school' and an integrated approach be taken when dealing with violence in schools. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toenemende geweld in skole in Suid-Afrikaanse townships bederf die skoolomgewing en belemmer die opvoedkundige proses. Die doel van hierdie studie is om leerders se ervarings van geweld in hoërskole in townships te verken, ten einde 'n voorkomingsprogram/-strategie vir skole te ontwikkel en aan te beveel. Die studie gebruik die teoretiese raamwerk van die bio-ekosistemiese teorie waarbinne geweld bespreek word as 'n aksie en 'n reaksie wat plaasvind deur wedersydse interaksie tussen die sisteme en die sosiale omgewing. Hierdie interaksie kan adolessente leerders aan individuele, gesinsverwante, skool- en gemeenskapsrisikofaktore blootstel. Die studie wys dat skole in townships die ligging is van wydverspreide geweld wat 'n uitwerking het op leerders se akademiese prestasie. Dit wys ook dat geweld in skole 'n weerspieëling is van die verhouding wat bestaan tussen gebeure in die skool en gebeure in die leerders se huise en gemeenskappe. Die navorsingsontwerp vir hierdie studie is dié van 'n gevallestudie. Dit is kwalitatief en verkennend van aard. Ongestruktureerde onderhoude is met leerders en fokusgroepe gevoer om inligting rakende hulle ervarings van geweld in skole in te win. Die data is ontleed na aanleiding van drie temas wat tydens die onderhoude na vore gekom het. Die bevindinge het gewys dat 'n noemenswaardige aantal adolessente leerders in townshipskole een of ander vorm van geweld ervaar het, en dat seuns gewoonlik die aanrigters van die geweld is. Die studie het voorts gevind dat akademiese prestasie ernstig beïnvloed word deur geweld wat binne en buite die skoolgronde plaasvind, en ook dat geweld binne die skole 'n simptoom is van die sosiale euwels van die gemeenskap waarbinne die skole geleë is. Die studie se gevolgtrekking is dat geweld in skole 'n veelvlakkige fenomeen is. Die aanbeveling wat op hierdie gevolgtrekking berus is dat 'n "heel skool" geïntegreerde benadering gevolg moet word wanneer daar met geweld in skole gewerk word.

The death of a parent is one of the most serious stressors that can occur in a child’s life. The aim of this study was to describe an 11-year-old child’s journey through traumatic grief after the violent death of her mother. The conceptual framework utilised was Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). The case study approach was applied as it provided a suitable research design in which to give an account of the subject in a therapeutic situation. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to select the research subject in the study. The following three principles of data collection were adhered to: a) using multiple sources of information, b) creating a case study database, and c) maintaining a chain of evidence. Irving Alexander’s content-analysis technique in conjunction with Guba’s model of trustworthiness was employed for data analysis. The finding that emerged from the study was the resilience shown by Linda in relation to her adaptive functioning following the trauma of witnessing the violent death of her mother. Conclusions and recommendations were made following the findings based on the information obtained during the therapy sessions.

The study explores the experiences of men who perpetrated violence against women in the domestic sphere. The study’s overarching concern is that violence has been largely seen as a women’s problem and not an issue that is central to men and yet in most cases are the perpetrators of this violence. Consequently, men have not been targeted in initiatives that curb domestic violence (Salo, 2005). It is in this frame of reference that this study saw it imperative to focus on the male perspective of gender violence. The study aims to find factors that contribute to male violence and in turn recommend practical and appropriate strategies of dealing with male violence perpetrators. The study drew its theoretical framework largely from the feminist theory, systems theory and the social learning theory in-order to gain insight into the different frameworks for making judgement about male violence against women. Feminists hold the view that, starting with people’s experiences is a powerful tool that provides the rational for their studies. The study was therefore qualitative in nature as it sought to gather men’s experiences of violent against their spouses; semi-structured interviews were utilized during data collection. A purposive sampling method was utilised to select ten men who were known to have perpetrated violence against their partners and five key informants with special knowledge on domestic violence. The research was conducted through the Department of Social Development in Alice in the Eastern Cape, which facilitated a trusting relationship between the researcher and its clients. The findings established that violence is used to maintain control and power over women. Men invoked hegemonic discourses as violence is employed as an instrument to suppress women, mostly in instances were women question their prerogatives and undermine their authority. It was evidenced that cultural practices such as ‘lobola’ (dowry) usually contribute to men’s use of violence. Most of the respondents understood violence from the physical dimension only, as violence was equated to beating and slapping. Added to that was the respondents’ inadequate understanding of domestic violence laws and legislation. The study also established that social service providers seem not to have concrete procedures and capacity to deal with perpetrators of domestic violence. In light of the problems discussed, the study recommends effective counseling and educational programs, policy improvement, capacitation of service providers and the criminal justice system and further research as strategies for dealing with male violence in the Nkonkobe District.

Thesis (MScPsy)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The phenomenon of violence is an all-too-common experience for many people around the world. In South Africa the legacy of a system of institutionalised violence has influenced the fabric of this society. The consequences of violence on South African youth are of major concern for the country's future. This research examines the types and contexts of exposure to violence and the types of self-reported aggression in a sample of 426 adolescent learners from three schools in the Stellenbosch District. The role of gender in mediating the type and the location of violence exposure and aggressive behaviour is also explored in this study. A questionnaire consisting of modified versions of the Screen for Adolescent Violence Exposure (SAVE) and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) was administered to 187 male and 239 female adolescents from three schools. The sample reported being exposed to moderately high levels of indirect violence in their community. This exposure was significantly correlated to high levels of self-reported aggression. Results from the Analyses of Variance indicated that females were exposed to more physical/verbal abuse at home, while males more frequently witnessed traumatic violence at school and in the community. The learners reported high levels of aggression, particularly with regard to physical aggression, verbal aggression and hostility. From these observations, females were found to be more hostile, while males demonstrated higher levels of physical aggression. Analysis of the gender differences suggested that males were more likely to display verbal aggression when exposed to violence, while females' exposure to physical/verbal abuse at school appeared to increase their levels of anger. The findings from this study indicate that adolescents exposed to high levels of violence are at risk of presenting with elevated levels of aggression. Efforts need to be made to reduce the levels of exposure to violence and adolescents' levels of aggression. It is suggested that adolescents be taught prosocial skills with regard to conflict situations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geweld is vir baie mense dwarsoor die wêreld 'n alledaagse verskynsel. Die stelsel van geinstitusionaliseerde geweld in Suid-Afrika het die wese van die samelewing beinvloed. Die gevolge van geweld op die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug is vir die land se toekoms kommerwekkend. Hierdie studie ondersoek die tipes en inhoud van blootstelling aan geweld, die tipes van selferkende aggressie en die verband tussen blootstelling en aggressie. Die studie ondersoek ook die rol van geslag in die blootstelling aan geweld, asook dié van aggressiewe gedrag. Die ondersoekgroep was 'n groep van 426 adolessente leerders van drie skole in die Stellenbosch Distrik. 'n Vraelys, bestaande uit aangepaste weergawes van die "Screen for Adolescent Violent Exposure (SAVE)" (Hastings & Kelley, 1997) en die "Aggression Questionnaire (AQ)" (Buss & Perry, 1992) is gebruik om 187 manlike en 239 vroulike adolessente by die drie skole te toets. Daar is gevind dat die ondersoekgroep blootgestel was aan redelike hoë vlakke van indirekte geweld in hulle gemeenskap wat beduidend korreleer met hul hoë selferkende aggressie. Resultate van die variansie-ontleding wys dat meisies meer blootgestel is aan fisiese/verbale geweld tuis, terwyl seuns weer meer dikwels getuies van traumatiese geweld by die skool en in die gemeenskap was. Die leerders het hoë vlakke van aggressie, veral fisiese aggressie, verbale aggressie en vyandigheid gerapporteer. Van die bevindings kan afgelei word dat meisies meer vyandig is, terwyl seuns weer hoër vlakke van fisiese aggressie geopenbaar het. Analise van die geslags verskille dui aan dat seuns meer geneig is tot verbale aggressie wanneer hulle aan geweld blootgestel word, terwyl meisies meer geneig is tot woede wanneer hulle aan fisiese of verba Ie geweld by die skool blootgestel word. Die bevindings dui aan dat adolessente wat blootgestel word aan hoë vlakke van geweld geneig is tot hoë vlakke van aggressie. Pogings behoort aangewend te word om geweld en die vlakke van aggressie verminder. Daar word aanbeveel dat adolessente sosiale vaardighede geleer moet word om konfliksituasies beter te kan hanteer.

M.A. (National Strategy) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

A Master’s Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, School of Human and Community Development, Discipline of Psychology, for the Degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, July 2017. / Bullying is a problematic phenomenon in South African schools, affecting victims and bullies in various ways. These can have far reaching consequences that can last for years. This research sought to investigate bullying in rural schools. It sought to investigate the existence of bullying in rural schools and to explore the nature of bullying in rural schools, with regards to gender. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, 200 learners from high schools in the Eastern Cape completed the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Data obtained from the participants was analysed using Chi-Square Test of Independence for each question in the questionnaire. The results confirmed the existence of bullying in rural schools. All three forms of bullying (physical, verbal, psychological bullying) and cyberbullying were present in the schools. Both boys and girls are experiencing bullying. The implications of this study include feelings of a lack of safety in the school environment, which will invariably affect learners’ academic and social progress. As such, more interventions should be designed to combat adverse effects of bullying. / XL2018

Submitted in accordance with the partial requirements for the degree of Masters in Community Based Counselling Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Witwatersrand, 2017 / Although research on violence has gained momentum over the last 3 decades, very little work on situational factors involved in violent enactments has been undertaken in South Africa. As a means to address this limitation, the aim of this project was to better understand the phenomenology of violence. Embedded in a psychosocial approach, the study subjected data collected through three staggered semi-structured interviews with nineteen incarcerated perpetrators of violent crime to a twostage secondary data analysis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The first phase, aimed to provide a broad general phenomenological reading of these fifty-seven interviews. Thereafter, a more strategic and theory driven analysis was performed, building on the broader reports of the phenomenology of violence and the perceived situational factors. The evidence suggests that neoliberal policies and ideology may have a significant role in production of violent crime in the South African context, informing not only the behavioural repertoire of its constituency, but, also coming to shape the way in which perpetrators make meaning of their lifeworld and perpetration of violent crime. The analysis also found that impairments in mentalization appeared to play a role as a situational determinant in violent enactments, and interestingly it appeared to be influenced by a number of other relevant situational factors (e.g. the presence and use of illicit substances, peer and social presence and pressure, indicators of a possible threat to their wellbeing, the presence of gangsters, the presence of indicators of conspicuous consumption, as well as, indicators of the presence of moral disengagement). As such, this study provides strong support for further research aimed at understanding the ways in which violence comes to be produced by the structural processes of neoliberalism, it’s influence on the subjectivity of individuals in neoliberalized contexts, and its arguably corrosive effect on marginalized communities by way of its divestment, as well as, its arguably negative sociocultural impact. The project’s overall contribution to psychosocial approaches to violence lies in its demonstration of the value of bridging theories that span work on moral disengagement, conspicuous consumption, neoliberalism, mentalization theory, phenomenology, and violence. / XL2018

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology In the faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg July 2017 / This research project is a part of a larger umbrella study that aims to explore the perceived psychological effects of Silent Protest day at the University of Witwatersrand. The research participants were students that participated in the event, whether or not they have been victims of sexual violence, or participated to show support for those who have. The intention of this research project was to identify factors that influence the disclosure of sexual violence on the Silent Protest day but also in general, and to explore the process of, and reasons for keeping silent about or disclosing the experience of sexual violence (whether to one person or to many). Sexual violence is a considerably big problem in South Africa, and unfortunately the majority of sexual offences go unreported. It has been shown that survivors of sexual violence often display signs of psychological distress and might develop a psychological disorder. The silence and stigma around sexual violence can prevent victim-survivors from reporting incidents and most importantly from seeking help. Research has shown that emotional inhibition about and/or nondisclosure of traumatic events is significantly associated with psychological problems such as dissociation, anxiety, depression, PTSD and mood disorders. The aims of this research project were therefore to get a better understanding of the nuances surrounding the actual process of disclosure on Silent protest day and in victim-survivors lives, to explore why individuals decide to, or not to, disclose sexual violence, and the emotional and psychological aspects and effects that are elicited and experienced within that process. Five participants that had participated in the 2015 Silent Protest were interviewed. The themes that emerged from the research were: factors that may prevent disclosure; factors that may facilitate disclosure; factors that appear to have a mixed effect on disclosure; and the researcher’s reflections on participants’ disclosure to her. Underlying these themes were various sub-themes such as feelings of shame, not knowing how to disclose, fear, having the opportunity to disclose; the nature of the relationship to the perpetrator; anticipated reaction from others; the survivor’s general feelings on disclosure, and their views of other survivors’ experiences of disclosure. The findings imply that the ability to tease out and understand the survivors’ internal processes from the external factors is key in aiding the actual process of disclosure in a supportive manner. / XL2018

The research was premised on the notion that gender is a social construct that is inextricably linked with masculinity and violence. This view of gender was used in an attempt to understand how masculinity and violence are constructed in the tabloid newspaper, the Daily Sun. The research used a discourse analysis, specifically looking at the various subject positions that are afforded to both men and women in this publication and how such positions foreclose other ways of thinking about and understanding gendered violence. The data set consisted of 23 information rich articles that were selected through the use of a purposeful sampling strategy. Results suggest while the Daily Sun positions itself as a medium that aims to ‘educate’ men (particularly working class men) against committing gendered violence, the Daily Sun may serve to reinforce the system of patriarchy that it claims to want to dismantle. In particular, the report highlights the problematic nature and implications of providing individual psychological explanations for gendered violence without acknowledging the contextual issues that are at play.